Attachment for drinking cups, glasses, and similar receptacles to prevent the spilling of liquids contained therein



J. CAMPOMAR 2,600,479 ATTACHMENT FOR DRINKING cups, GLASSES, AND SIMILAR RECEPTACLES TO PREVENT THE SPILLING OF LIQUIDS CONTAINED THEREIN Filed July 10, 1950 June 17,

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE Jos Campomar, Montevideo, Uruguay Application July 10, 1950, Serial No. 172,814 In Argentina October 25, 1949 2 Claims. 1

The present invention refers to an attachment applicable to drinking cups, glasses and similar receptacles to avoid spilling the liquids contained therein when drinking the same for example on trains, ships, planes and vehicles in motion.

The object of the invention is to provide an attachment applicable to receptacles which are commonly used for drinking liquids, which will fit firmly within the upper part and which is designed to prevent the spilling of the liquid owing to the movements of the travelling vehicle, for example in the restaurant coaches on railroads. The attachment can be used on receptacles which have a certain variation in the diameter or circumference of the opening of same.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the nature mentioned which will not impede the use of the receptacle in the normal manner by applying the lips to the usual integral edge or lip of the receptacle.

In accordance with the invention the device is composed of a single split annular piece which can be made of plastic material, stainless steel or other convenient material and is provided with a relatively broad downwardly inclined rim forming a truncated conical surface. The piece has also an annular horizontal rim designed to rest on the upper edge of a receptacle and at right angles thereto a vertical annular portion designed 'to make contact with the upper inner part of the receptacle. The device is split to afford a gap or cutaway portion of substantial width at the outside circumference, the gap being preferably shaped to leave only a relatively narrow separation between the two lower ends of the broad inclined rim.

For greater clarity, the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the attached drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows the attachment applied to a common drinking cup.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the device in accordance with the invention and Figure 3 is a section taken diametrically on Figure 2.

As is clearly illustrated in the figures, the relatively broad annular rim l is downwardly inclined, the horizontal rim 2 is designed to rest on the upper part of the edge of the cup 3 (illustrated in dotted lines as not forming part of the invention) and the annular part 4 is designed to fit against the upper inner surface of the cup 3. Due to the cut away portion 5, the attachment has a certain elasticity which obliges the external part of the annular portion 4 to fit firmly against the upper inner surface of the receptacle. The form of the cut away portion 5, greater at the outer and lesser at the inner circumference of the attachment, leaves a length of the upper edge of the receptacle free to allow the action of drinking by applying the lips to the said free edge in the normal manner.

It will be understood that with the movements of a, train or other vehicle, on lifting the receptacle containing a liquid from a table, owing to the lateral movements of the party holding the receptacle, the liquid will move more violently within the said receptacle and consequently it is extremely difficult to drink the liquid without spilling same when the cup or receptacle is full or nearly so. The truncated conical surface of the relatively broad rim I and the close fit of the attachment within the receptacle, prevent the liquid from spilling, except through the cut away portion 5 when the receptacle is inclined towards the mouth to drink the liquid.

It will be understood that modifications in details may be introduced within the scope of the invention. For instance certain edges may be suitably rounded off.

Having thus described my invention and the manner in which same is to be performed, I declare that I claim:

1. An adjustable splash guard for drinking cups, glasses, and similar receptacles to prevent spilling of liquids contained therein, especially when drinking same on vehicles in motion, said attachment comprising a unitary generally annular ring of resilient material having a gap of substantial width in one side thereof, said ring having a normal size greater than that of the mouths of receptacles with which it is to be used, and tending to re-expand when it is contracted and its gap narrowed to enable it to be mounted in such receptacle mouths, said gapped resilient ring comprising a substantially vertically extending wall to lie within and expand against the inner surface of the receptacle adjacent its upper edge, a generally horizontal outwardly extending flange to overlie the rim of the receptacle, and a downwardly and inwardly inclined splash intercepting portion forming a truncated conical surface, the gap in said gapped ring providing a space for the passage of liquid over the rim of the receptacle when the receptacle is tilted theretoward with the ring in place in its mouth.

2. An adjustable splash guard according to claim 1 in which the gap is outwardly flared from the inner part of said splash intercepting portion 3 to the outer edge of said ring for exposing a relatively wide portion of the rim of the receptacle for contact by the lips in drinking therefrom, While maintaining a relatively narrow gap near the inner part of the splash intercepting portion.

JOSE QCAMPOMAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bruun Feb. 4, 1896 Fenn Mar. 22, 1904 Padgett May 17, 1927 Trautsetter June 10, 1930 Wachsman Sept. 30, 1947 Michael Dec. 19, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July '7, 1902 Great Britain Nov. 3, 1906 

